No club level rooms with free dining

[Forensicmom]

We were planning to book a club level room at the Wiilderness Lodge b/c it would sleep all 6 of us. The website wouldn't let me book with the free dining plan, so I just called and was told that the FD is NOT offered in Club level rooms. That means we either need to book a villa or two seperate rooms.

She also told me that the week before Thanksgiving is NOT crowded and is in their value season, which is why the FD is offered. Is this true?

We really liked the Wilderness Lodge but might consider other resorts instead. The Beach Club is only a little more and the Caribbean Beach Resort was a good amount cheaper but still in a location we wanted to consider. Is there THAT much difference in a hotel? My DH insists we stay in a really nice place since this is a one time trip. He doesn't want a regular "Holiday Inn" feel. Help!

 

[irishdadx4]

I don't think any of the Disney resorts have a "Holiday Inn" feeling to them, but please note, all moderate and value resorts have outside doors opening to the guest room walkways. Only the deluxe resorts have inside hallways. But the folks who wrote the Complete Guide to Walt Disney World do noise tests in all the resorts and found that the inside deluxes were considerably more noisy in the rooms then the mod or value resorts since the room doors in the deluxe resorts don't have weatherstripping under the doors which blocks a considerable amount of noise.

Oh...we took our "one time" trip back in Aug 2009....we've been back 3 times since then and have another trip in 15 days, and two Disney cruises planned for 2012, with the intent on another park trip in 2013 when the new Fantasyland expansion is fully opened. Disney trips are like potato chips, you can't take just one

 

[NHDisneyKid]

A standard club level room is coming up for Wilderness Lodge with the free dining package (online anyway). Could it possibly be not available because you have 6 people and a standard club level room can't accommodate that many? The description says the standard club level room has two queens, one queen and a bunk, or one king, so that won't do it for 6...

I've never done club level, so wonder if there's another category that sleeps more, and that's the one that's not included in the free dining? Either way, I agree their accommodations for bigger families can be tricky, good luck!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The only way anyone with 6 people can stay Club Level at the Wilderness Lodge no matter if it's with Free Dining or a regular room only reservation is by reserving their Deluxe Club Level Room or one of their various Club Level Suites. All of their Standard Rooms no matter if it's a regular room or Club Level can only allow for a maximum of 4 guests only.

 

[Pams]

Hi,
What is your family situation... 4 little kids? 4 big kids? grandparents?
There are rooms available at some of the timeshare villas. It is for two bed units and are pricy but maybe not more than a concierge suite. There are also the cabins at the campground.
When are 4 kids were little we stayed at the campground. It doesn't have quite the disney feel but we liked coming back to a place in the trees after a busy day. The units have a kitchen, one bathroom, a bedroom with a double bed and a set of bunk beds. In the living room there is a double sized murphy bed that pulls out of the wall at night.
We loved the full kitchen for snack or a meal or two. My little boys especially liked the gecco's that sun themselves on the trees.

 

[ancestry]

Just my opinion but as much as I love staying club level I wouldn't do it with the free dining promotion. The club level rooms are so expensive that you usually get further ahead financially during a room discount (% off the room).

Also we have found that the club level food plus the dining plan equals way too much food (and we are even big eaters). When we stay club we usually one do one meal each day outside of the club level -- sometimes we do a table service and sometimes a counter service depending on our mood.

 

[TisBit]

But the folks who wrote the Complete Guide to Walt Disney World do noise tests in all the resorts and found that the inside deluxes were considerably more noisy in the rooms then the mod or value resorts since the room doors in the deluxe resorts don't have weatherstripping under the doors which blocks a considerable amount of noise.

I agree the inside resorts do have more noise...but for a multiple reasons and not just weatherstripping. The rooms with outside doors generally have heavier doors with more insulation/weather protection (stripping, etc) to protect from outside elements. The inside doors will usually just have a small brush/plastic along the bottom and also less protected all around. But the major factor of noise is that in the hallways there is an echo and all the noise is contained in that space. When you slam a door in the hallway the noise will travel down the hallway because it has nowhere else to go. On the outside facing doors, when they are slammed the noise will generally travel away from the door into the open space across from it (parking lot, pool area, etc). Same goes for voices, children running, etc.

 

[Pams]

Hi, I used dates Nov 13 to 20
I checked an it is cheaper to stay at a two bed villa at old key west or saratoga springs (they even have the treehouses available) or even animal kingdom villas than to stay in a suite at wilderness lodge.

 

[irishdadx4]

I agree the inside resorts do have more noise...but for a multiple reasons and not just weatherstripping. The rooms with outside doors generally have heavier doors with more insulation/weather protection (stripping, etc) to protect from outside elements. The inside doors will usually just have a small brush/plastic along the bottom and also less protected all around. But the major factor of noise is that in the hallways there is an echo and all the noise is contained in that space. When you slam a door in the hallway the noise will travel down the hallway because it has nowhere else to go. On the outside facing doors, when they are slammed the noise will generally travel away from the door into the open space across from it (parking lot, pool area, etc). Same goes for voices, children running, etc.

I agree with all that...just wasn't going to go into so much detail..but all correct.

 

[Pams]

Another idea
for half the price of the villas you could stay in the family suites at the All star Music. that would only give you the quick service meal plan but you could upgrade it for i think $11 per adult (age 10 and up) per day.
It really depends on what you want.
The villas have two bedrooms/two bathrooms and a full kitchen(tree houses have three bedrooms) . The cabins have one bedroom and 1 bathroom and a full kitchen. The family suites have 1 bedroom two bathrooms and a mini kitchen.

 

[Forensicmom]

Thanks Pams but we do not want to stay at the Value resorts or the cabins. If we're splurging, we're not staying in those cabins.

It will be my hubby and I and our 4 kids (17, 12, 10, 7). The club level/deluxe room was cheaper for us then 2 rooms but with the free dining, it makes a difference. So we're definately going to go with something that will work with the free dining.

I like the Saratoga Springs and the others but we really didn't like the location much. Also, I've been told they are very spread out and it's not easy to walk to the pools, restaurants, etc.

We're now considering two rooms since it will give us 2 bathrooms, 2 tv areas and seperate changing areas for the older kids.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

We were planning to book a club level room at the Wiilderness Lodge b/c it would sleep all 6 of us. The website wouldn't let me book with the free dining plan, so I just called and was told that the FD is NOT offered in Club level rooms. That means we either need to book a villa or two seperate rooms.

She also told me that the week before Thanksgiving is NOT crowded and is in their value season, which is why the FD is offered. Is this true?

We really liked the Wilderness Lodge but might consider other resorts instead. The Beach Club is only a little more and the Caribbean Beach Resort was a good amount cheaper but still in a location we wanted to consider. Is there THAT much difference in a hotel? My DH insists we stay in a really nice place since this is a one time trip. He doesn't want a regular "Holiday Inn" feel. Help!

FD isoffered for Club Level, but it might not be available for your dates. Yesterday I priced it for Wilderness Lodge and booked it for Polynesian (both club level, both with free dining) for January 29-Feb 3.

Edited to Add: You have to get at least a Deluxe Room at WL for 6 people, which is considered a suite, and Free Dining is NOT available for suites.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks Pams but we do not want to stay at the Value resorts or the cabins. If we're splurging, we're not staying in those cabins.

It will be my hubby and I and our 4 kids (17, 12, 10, 7). The club level/deluxe room was cheaper for us then 2 rooms but with the free dining, it makes a difference. So we're definately going to go with something that will work with the free dining.

I like the Saratoga Springs and the others but we really didn't like the location much. Also, I've been told they are very spread out and it's not easy to walk to the pools, restaurants, etc.

We're now considering two rooms since it will give us 2 bathrooms, 2 tv areas and seperate changing areas for the older kids.

Have you checked out some of the 2 bedroom DVC villas? The ones at AKV and BLT will give you 3 bathrooms! I don't know how they compare price wise to two rooms, but they are really nice. Plus, you get the washer/dryer--a nice perk with 4 kids!

And, you would get a king bed, two pull out sofas, a queen bed, and a sleeper chair. Everyone would get their own bed. Just a thought!

 

[lpereira]

Free dining excludes suites which is what a family of 6 would need. Regular club level studios are included in the promotion.

 

[Lehuaann]

The only way anyone with 6 people can stay Club Level at the Wilderness Lodge no matter if it's with Free Dining or a regular room only reservation is by reserving their Deluxe Club Level Room or one of their various Club Level Suites. All of their Standard Rooms no matter if it's a regular room or Club Level can only allow for a maximum of 4 guests only.

Are WL DLX CL rooms available for FD? They, as well as suites, were blocked with my 40% pin.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Are WL DLX CL rooms available for FD? They, as well as suites, were blocked with my 40% pin.

I honestly don't know if they are or not.

 

[Lehuaann]

They gave me a 40% off option for BWI DLX room, which seems like an equal alternative. Not sure why WL was excluded.

 

[ElizabethB]

I have never seen Wilderness Lodge CL junior suites (which are the CL rooms that sleep 6 but cheaper in price than the one and two bedroom suites) discounted, whether with room discounts, AP discounts or free dining. To stay at WL CL with 6, it would make sense to book two CL rooms with free dining or the AP discount and request that they be connecting. No guarantees they will connect, however.

By contrast, I have often seen BWI CL deluxe rooms, BC CL deluxe rooms, BWI Garden Suites and, very occasionally, GF deluxe rooms in RPC, available with discounts. (Of these rooms, only the BWI CL deluxe rooms sleep six.) But, I have never seen YC CL deluxe rooms discounted. And, of course, suites simply are never discounted, in my experience (except for the aforementioned BWI Garden Suites).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

They gave me a 40% off option for BWI DLX room, which seems like an equal alternative. Not sure why WL was excluded.

Maybe all of their Deluxe Club Level Rooms are sold out during your dates or they just aren't available at all during Free Dining.

By contrast, I have often seen BWI CL deluxe rooms, BC CL deluxe rooms, BWI Garden Suites and, very occasionally, GF deluxe rooms in RPC, available with discounts. (Of these rooms, only the BWI CL deluxe rooms sleep six.) But, I have never seen YC CL deluxe rooms discounted. And, of course, suites simply are never discounted, in my experience (except for the aforementioned BWI Garden Suites).

When it comes to the Boardwalk Inn Garden Suites I think the limit is also 6 people, however they are a lot smaller then the Deluxe Rooms and is really only good for couples or families of 4. They have both a downstairs and upstairs, however the inside isn't as big as you might think.

 

[lpereira]

Garden suites only hold 4. One bed upstairs and a pullout downstairs. One bath and its upstairs too.